Opt for a Staycation Over a Vacation

Set some ground rules (no work for the entire weekend, no friends/just family time), plan your itinerary, and get started!

Grow Your Own Food

There’s no need to trek to the grocery store when you have lettuce growing in your backyard.

Your meals can be made with fresh, organic, local produce — grown by you.

It’s easier than you might think to start a home garden.

It will save you trips to the store and time.

How to Start a Greenhouse

Stay in the Neighborhood

Instead of driving to the fancy park across town, spend time in your neighborhood park.

Opt for restaurants and grocery stores that are close to home.

You’ll reduce your environmental impact and save time because you won’t have to travel as far.

Bike and Walk More

Now that the weather is lovely and sunny, opt to bike or walk to your destination instead of hopping in the car.

It might take a little longer, but you’ll get exercise, spend time outside, and better experience summer.

Search Out Local Entertainment

You don’t need to travel far to find good summertime entertainment.

In the warmer months, music festivals, neighborhood art shows, and movies in the park abound.

Take advantage of your neighborhood’s offerings.

You’ll meet new people and have experiences you would otherwise miss out on.

Best of all, most of these offerings are free and nearby.

What is Going Green – Significance of Conserving Energy

So what is Going Green? Going Green is a popular term used by environmentalists today.

You may also have heard the term in the news or must have read it in your newspaper.

You must have also seen a group of people protesting against industries and the pollution they create, in the streets holding slogans that say “Go Green or Go Home!” or “Protect Our Environment”, etc.

But have you ever really thought about what is going green?

What is Going Green

Well for starters what is going green?

Going green refers to actions which result in the promotion and protection of the environment and the climate.

Do not forget about the protection of endangered species and other animals.

For example, due to global warming, the arctic ice is melting and the climate is getting warmer by a few degrees each year.

This directly affects the habitat of that region.

Many polar bears die each year due to lack of food and warmth.

Another instance can be the endangerment of honey bees due to increased use of pesticides.

Pesticides kill honey bees and that can be increasingly dangerous for the planet’s biodiversity.

Without honey bees pollinating the plants, almost 80% of the planet’s plant life will disappear which will directly affect the global populace as agriculture will suffer.

Without honey bees there will be no honey and without honey many medications and treatment will cease to exist.

Going green is an important thing but what is going green without knowing anything about it?

People often say that they want to participate wholeheartedly in cleaning up the environment but do not know where to start.

Well, you can start going green right from your home.

Going green involves developing systems and processes which work in harmony with the environment and to reduce the use of chemicals and toxic substances which pollute the climate all around you.

The ozone layer is slowly depleting due to increased industrial activity in the world.

China, for example, is known for its mass industrial power and the pollution that is destroying people’s lives.

Majority of the Chinese population have to work wearing breathing masks to avoid inhaling smog and smoke.

What is going green if you do not implement necessary measures?

Everybody can start giving something back to the environment.

After all, there is hardly any person who can say that he/she does not pollute.

This planet is your only home.

Unlike in sci-fi movies where when earth is destroyed by man, colonies of men are shifted to another planet; that is not going to happen with you.

If the planet ceases to be the way it is and the environment deteriorates further, the future generations would suffer.

Moreover, the Earth will become uninhabitable to a large extent.

Going green means discovering and implementing alternative energy sources and preserving fossil fuels so that fewer pollutants harm the air around you.

What is Going Green: Global Awareness

Governments all over the globe, along with nongovernmental organizations, propagate and circulate public awareness regarding what is going green and what each individual should do to protect the environment.

Note that the pollution which was a direct result of the industrial revolution was the first cause for concern regarding the environment’s survival.

Today, due to urbanization, globalization and industrialization, the environments is suffering a painful blow resulting in extreme weather conditions and global warming.

Governments all around the world are trying to find ways to promote the health of the environment by cutting down industrial pollution but so far nothing positive has come out of the efforts.

There are still trees being cut down in numbers reaching thousands each year for the production of various industrial and common use products.

With fewer trees around, there will be deforestation and with deforestation, millions of species of animals will go extinct.

It is their natural habitat which is being destroyed.

Without trees there will be no circulation of clean air, trees have the ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Once a tree is cut down, a source of clean air is killed which could have served its purpose for many years to come.

How is the Planet Being Affected?

The planet’s eco-system is affected in a number of ways as a result of man-made pollutants.

Previously, when there were no major regulations or laws against chemical waste disposal, various companies used to dump their chemical waste into rivers to dispose them off.

This resulted in the marine life of many water bodies going extinct.

People who used the water from these sources also suffered as a result of the contamination.

But nowadays, industries are regularized and are legally bound to set up water treatment systems to convert and treat the waste water from factories and households into more pure and usable water.

In many cases, the water that is treated can be recycled and used for other applications, or the waste can even be recycled to be used as applications for industrial purposes.

For example, you can recycle glass, paper, plastic, etc. Recycling is a major part of what is going green.

In what is going green, the major source of pollution is the heavy usage of oil, gas and other fossil fuels mostly used to power industries.

These fossil fuels will someday run out (adding to the damage).

The use of these fuels directly results in the emission of dangerous fumes and gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrousoxide.

These are known as greenhouse gases which pollute the air and the environment.

If you want to know what is going green, then it is imperative that you understand that burning fossil fuels in order to harness energy from it also produces a lot of carbon dioxide.

According to research done recently, it is indicated that the total percentage of carbon dioxide which is produced by burning fossil fuels, the environment can only process half of it.

This percentage is expected to decrease with each passing day due to deforestation.

The other half of the carbon dioxide produced is left unprocessed and that is what damages the environment and increase health risks.

This is in turn damages the planet’s ecosystem and thus results in global warming which pertains to drastic changes in the climate of the planet.

But there are steps that are being taken to prevent this damage and other forms of renewable and alternative energy are being implemented.

What is Going Green and How can You Help Save the Planet

Replenishing the Damaged Environment

Just knowing about what is going green won’t do any good.

You have to practice and implement ways to lessen the burden on the environment.

If you live in one of the hotter areas of the country you can learn more about heat tolerant plants in Gilmour’s article.

You can go green starting with your house.

Tell your kids and spouse to switch off the lights when they are not in use.

Try and avoid switching lights on during the daytime to conserve energy.

Walk to work or school if it isn’t far away.

Otherwise, take the bus instead of driving there.

When you go to get groceries, ride a bike.

Taking a car means burning fuel which means more emissions on your part.

Following these simple steps can help reduce your carbon footprint.

Secondly, you can actively participate by planting trees and other forms of flora and fauna in your backyard or your lawn.

Reforestation is important if you want to help combat the harmful effects and damages caused by logging.

Try to do some reforestation in both urban and rural areas.

Did you know that the major causes of floods and landslide is heavy logging and deforestation?

Widespread flooding and huge landslides which wipes off entire cities and towns off the map, killing and displacing thousands of people in the process, is the result of logging and heavy deforestation.

Trees also act as nature’s shield against landslides and flooding due to heavy rain.

Taking down the shield will no doubt result in destruction.

And because of this, some species have already gone extinct and many are on the verge of extinction.

In what is going green, the trash you throw on beaches and in the water affects marine life.

Each year thousands of birds who come to get fish from the waters are killed due to major oil spills and other contaminants in the ocean.

The fish that they eat also suffer because of the rampant pollution.

To combat this, conservationists have developed a routine to clean up beaches all around the world on a daily basis.

Oil spills, on the other hand, cannot be controlled.

It is surprising to discover what is going green and the different ways in which you can give back to the planet.

All you need to do is play your part in any way you can, big or small it doesn’t matter.

But it is your duty to do your bit to preserve the environment and prevent further damage.

Many people are aware of what is going green and they know that some things are good for the planet and yet they do not do anything about it and instead turn a blind eye to it.

Going green is healthy and it can be a really noble cause.

Knowing more about what is going green can save you money and lead you to a better and healthier life.

A cleaner environment today will lead to a cleaner future tomorrow.

Going green is all about restoring nature and conserving resources.

It is imperative that you save resources so that the future generations can use them to go about their lives.

At the rate the world is going, it is not impossible to state there will be a scarcity of natural resources in the years to come.

Conserve Water

When in need of a shower, try not to waste a lot of water by taking long showers.

When washing your face with soap or brushing your teeth or even shaving, it is a good idea to turn off the water.

Get all the leaky faucets fixed so that there is no dripping water, which only ends up being wasted.

You see, going green is all about replacing your old habits and adopting new ones that not only result in your satisfaction but also help save the environment.

Each time you decide to do something about saving natural resources, you take a step towards helping make the world a better place.

Recycle

Recycling is an important and fundamental way to promote environmental protection.

Recycling involves the process of turning waste into reusable products.

For example, empty glass bottles or plastic plates or rubber can be recycled.

Glass can be recycled into a new glass bottles, ready for reuse, and so on.

The process of recycling ensures the conservation of scarce resources and also reduces harmful emissions.

Reuse

You can reuse some of the things that you intend to throw away.

For example, you can reuse old clothing as cleaning rags.

You can turn containers into pots and plant some flowers.

You can even donate old clothes to a church or charity so that they can be used to clothe the needy.

Change Your Lighting

You can switch to using fluorescent bulbs which use less power and are long-lasting.

Bring Your Own Grocery Bags

When going out for grocery shopping, you can Sachi Insulated Market Totes, Set of 6 with you so that you don’t have to take plastic bags.

If everybody starts bringing their own bags, there won’t even be a need to manufacture more bags.

Homesteading

Try to grow your own food through homesteading.

Considerable greenhouse gas emissions can be avoided this way as there will be lower demand of processed foods.

Ride a Bus or Carpool

You can also reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling or riding a bus or a bicycle.

Plant flowers

For example, these houseplants can reduce the amount of formaldehyde in the air by 90%.

As an extra bonus, plants release oxygen by a process called photosynthesis.

With little care, they will continue to purify the air for your family.

Living a Green Lifestyle

Even though living a green lifestyle while being a busy mom may seem like an impossible task, it doesn’t have to be.

There are many things you can do to incorporate good environmental practices into even the most hectic day.

You can feel good about taking care of your family and for modeling a healthy, environmentally-conscious lifestyle that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

New Year’s Resolutions for Green Moms

If you’re making New Year’s resolutions for 2013, why not make them green?

Below, we offer ten easy green tips to get you started.

Don’t worry: we’re not suggesting you try to tackle all of them (although if you do, let us know and we’ll send you a shiny gold star!).

Take an ‘Eat Local Challenge’

For one month, attempt to eat all local foods, including all groceries and prepared food.

Or do as my sister did in Northampton, MA: try it for a year, eating 70 percent local.

Make your home as efficient as possible

Even if you can’t afford to complete remodel your home to include geothermal heating or solar panels, you can have a home performance for energy efficiency conducted by a heating and air professional, saving you money as well as help the earth.

Make 2013 the year you buy used

Can you do it? Buy only used and recycled items for a year?

If you take on this huge challenge, remember there are a few items families should never buy used, such as bicycle helmets, car seats, cribs, and computers, unless refurbished.

Make your local farmers’ market a routine weekly stop

If you divide your regular grocery shopping between a number of stores, add the farmers’ market to the list, and consistently shop there.

It takes time to get to know what foods are regularly offered and to get to know local farmers and artisans.

Leave your car parked at least one day per week

Pick a day of the week that works for your schedule, and vow to not drive.

Maybe a weekend day is best, during which you’ll ride a bike, walk, or just stay home.

Maybe a weekday works, on a day your kids don’t have obligations or are picked up by others in a car pool, or you carpool to work.

Recycle more than you throw away

In the past year, my recycling bin has consistently been fuller than my trash bin, and I couldn’t be happier.

Check your local garbage service details to make sure you’re taking advantage of all you can recycle.

I didn’t realize so many items were eligible for recycling until I asked for a full list.

Start composting

This is on my personal New Year’s list!

Composting is inexpensive and easy once you get the hang of it, and even if you don’t have space or time for a garden, many local nurseries and farms will buy your compost to take it off your hands.

Many cities, such as Seattle, now have composting service.

Hang clothes to dry

I’ll admit it: this is one that seems like way too much work.

However, with three school-aged boys, we go through a lot of laundry each week, and it seems like the dryer is always turning.

We’ll switch to a low-energy dryer such as those sold at Laundry Alternative or hang clothes on a line in the spring and summer.

Volunteer with a local outdoor effort

You don’t have to wait until Earth Day to plant a tree or build a trail. Parks and Rec departments and local forest services also run programs in many areas.

Ban processed foods from your house

Once you’re trying to avoid them, you’ll be shocked to see how many of the foods we buy are heavily processed.

Not only are processed foods terrible for us, but they almost always involve extensive packaging that is harmful to the environment.

2 thoughts on “8 Tips for Going Green This Summer”

Great tips! This is good advice to adapt while traveling too. Especially seeking out Farmer’s Markets… often the tastiest and cheapest way to buy groceries. Of course seeking out local entertainment is a great way to get the vibe for a place too.

Great tips! This is good advice to adapt while traveling too. Especially seeking out Farmer’s Markets… often the tastiest and cheapest way to buy groceries. Of course seeking out local entertainment is a great way to get the vibe for a place too.